HYANNIS – In every Whole Foods Market, one staff member is designated a “forager.”

That person seeks out local foods to potentially sell in the grocery store, said Heather McCready, Whole Foods public relations manager for the North Atlantic region.

“Every store has the power to bring in and test out new local products as their forager … and their (staff) find them,” McCready said.

With Whole Foods planning to open a store in Hyannis by the end of next year, what will that mean for local growers, fishermen and other Cape producers? Some say it could give them a high-profile buyer and increase the likelihood of their products being bought on the Cape, while others question whether it will be direct competition.

“I guess there are pros and cons to both sides,” said Tasha Rios, a Cape Cod Cooperative Extension staff member who helps run the Buy Fresh Buy Local program on Cape Cod.

Whole Foods announced Wednesday it plans to open a 28,000-square-foot store in the former Borders building on Route 132.

“It could be great for farmers and fishermen,” she said, possibly giving them more visibility with consumers and another buyer. “Of course, it depends on the prices Whole Foods is giving to them.”

Rios said in many cases, it could make more sense for farmers to sell products directly to the consumer at farmers markets.

“It’s hard enough to make a minimum wage as farmers and fishermen” without a middle man, she said.

McCready said there’s no set amount of local food each store sells, but it’s usually between 1,000 to 1,800 products at any given time. Each region of the Austin, Texas-based grocer shapes its own definition of local, according to the company’s website.

The North Atlantic considers New England and parts of upstate New York as local, McCready said.

Sometimes, local producers start off selling in just one store and their products eventually become available in other store locations, she said.

West Barnstable resident Eric Hesse and four other local fishermen reached an agreement this spring to sell cod and haddock to Whole Foods, he said, which would be sold in Boston-area stores. So far, the amount sold has been minimal, but Hesse said he expects things to ramp up during the winter.

“I’m excited. That is great news,” Hesse said when finding out Whole Foods was opening a Cape location. Beyond the possible new business, Hesse said he was glad it gave local consumers another option to buy fish from area waters.

Greg Walinski, one of the five Cape fishermen that struck the deal, said it was good news for them.

“The more stores the better,” he said. “Maybe in the long run we could talk to them about other species, too.”

Susan Knieriem, owner of Miss Scarlet’s Blue Ribbon Farm in Yarmouthport, said she was taking a wait-and-see approach regarding Whole Foods. On one hand, it could be competition for her poultry, pork and produce farm. But it also could be a potential source of revenue.

“I’m all for it if they are going to say, ‘Hey, we see you sell chickens,. Can we sell your chickens?’” she said.